The Selmanaires, 'The Air Salesmen' (International Hits)

"Broken Mirrors in the Mud," the opening cut on this Atlanta band's sophomore effort, is a revelation. Built around a wiry, spring-loaded riff, it's a blues barnstormer rendered as power pop -- the work of a band well versed in both Howlin' Wolf and Big Star. The follow-up, "Nite Beat," is similarly sublime, with shimmering chord changes wound tight around a haunting double-tracked melody. Elsewhere, raucous punk glam ("Just to Get Yr Love") rubs up against chiming chamber pop ("Verdigris Intrigue") and angular new-wave funk ("A Small Room"), revealing the Selmanaires as restlessly stylish sonic savants.